Constellation launches new California brand

Constellation Europe is launching a new unpretentious' brand from California based around the region's associations with surf culture.

Twin Fin - named after a type of classic surfboard popular with experienced surfers', according to a spokesman - was launched at this week's LIWSF and has a standard retail price of 5.99.

A spokeman for Constellation said that the range was aimed at all retail sectors, including the on-trade and the multiple grocers', although the level of price promotions, if any, has yet to be decided.

So far the range consists of four varietal wines: a Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay.

The wine has been blended from a number of different Californian wineries in the Constellation portfolio by two young surf-mad' Australian winemakers - Hugh Reimers and Sam Burton.

Clare Giffiths, VP brands marketing at Constellation Europe, commented: Twin Fin launched last year in the US, where it became the biggest-selling new wine brand of 2005 - we have high hopes for it in the UK too.

I'm sure that it will appeal to all of us who secretly hanker after the famous laid-back, easy-going California way of life.'

The US has been the fastest-growing country of origin in the UK market for the past two years.